A Barton County man received burns to his upper body, his face and to the top of his head from an industrial accident that happened about 3:45 p.m. Friday at a sandpit in the 10 block of SE 60 Ave.

According to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Kirk Deines was attempting to thaw out the sand dredge of the Dartmouth Sand Pit, which he owns and operates, when the diesel caught on fire from the torch he was using, resulting in a small explosion. After he drove himself to Great Bend Regional Hospital, Deines was transported via helicopter to a Wichita hospital’s burn unit.

A spokesman for Via Christi Health in Wichita said Deines was released on Monday.